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DF65 Social Racing 2023 – 5/7/23

The wind was a gusty 10 knots and so A rigs were the choice today and even then some nose diving and loss of control could happen to the unlucky few.  A windward leeward course over a good part and starting at the Clubhouse end of the lake was setup, with a gate to give more options to the 10 sailors out today.

There were 5 different winners of the races, although John Brierley took the lions share of 5, with Andrew Potter on 2, followed by Heil Westbrook, Dave Williams and Peter on one each.

John Brierley easily took the winners spot, with Neil just pipping Peter by one point for second and third places.  Racing is getting closer each week with one race seeing the whole fleet fighting for their place between the first mark and spreader which were only 6 metres apart.

Thanks go to Alan for dropping out after the first race and being RO for the remainder of the day.  More fun and close racing next Wednesday at 11.

  1. John Brierley             84   11pts
  2. Neil Westbrook        03    23pts
  3. Peter Baldwin            63   24pts
  4. Andrew Potter         194  30pts
  5. Andrew Peter           919  35.3pts
  6. Dave Williams            33  43pts  1x1st
  7. Mike De St Paer         35  43 pts
  8. Frans King                   95  49pts
  9. John Beech                   80  65pts
  10. Paul Little                     45  66pts

DF65 Social Racing 2023 – 28/6/23

In an ideal world the wind blows consistently along the pond and the race officer can set a course with an unbiased start line, a satisfying beat to a windward mark, a reach down to a separator at which boats turn onto a downwind leg and sail happy to the leeward gate or mark. Today was not such a day. As we gathered at the pondside we scratched our heads trying to work out the wind direction, while the wind shifted around us, turning beats into runs and back again.

In the face of this wayward wind, it was decided to set a course starting at the clubhouse end, sailing to the far end and rounding the two furthest buoys to port before turning back to a mark at the clubhouse end and finishing halfway up the pond. After a few races the race officer, Dave Williams (who generously acted as RO throughout the racing) added a separator at the clubhouse end. Despite the fluky winds several boats managed consistent performance with Mike de St. Paer taking the honours, followed by Alan Watkinson. The full results after 8 races were:

  1. Mike de St. Paer                          10
  2. Alan Watkinson                           15
  3. Clive Warren                                 17
  4. Jon Whitehead                             21
  5. Andrew Peter                               30
  6. Neil Westbrook                            31
  7. John Carlin                                    32
  8. John Beech                                     47
  9. Paul Little                                       48
  10. Charles Legg                                  53
  11. Martin Whitingham-Jones     54
  12. Frans King                                      55
  13. Dave Warren                                  66
  14. Richard Walker                             83*

* Retired early owing to technical problems

DF65 Social Racing 2023 – 14/6/23

Eleven sailors arrived on a glorious sunny day accompanied by a pleasant breeze. A+ the rig of the day. Mike put his boat on the water and quickly realised he had no control at times so took the boat out and volunteered to be RO. Martin having changed his winch from last week still had problems so he was also out for the morning and then there were nine.

After John C donned the waders and moved the start line racing commenced. Andrew started well and gained three wins in the first four races but then could not find a better position than third.

John C was having electrical problems so had to drop out of two races but the repair was satisfactory meaning he could move up to be with the leaders Alan and Neil, who finished with a point between them. Ten races were held with the usual two laps for the final race. Thanks again to Mike for being our RO and to John for moving the marks.

  1. Alan Watkinson       16pts 4 wins
  2. Neil Westbrook        17pts  1 win
  3. Andrew Potter          20pts 3 wins
  4. John Carlin                21pts  2 wins
  5. Clive Warren             29pts
  6. Charles Legg             49pts
  7. Dave Williams          51pts
  8. Frans King                 58pts
  9. Malcolm Harvey     60pts

DF/RG65 Summer Series 2023 #4 – 10/6/23

Today turned out to be one of the warmest days of the year on the Wirral, with final temperatures reaching 30C, but at least the Easterly breeze was still with us, with an average of probably 6-8 knots, but holes (2knots) and gusts of 12+ knots causing a few nose dives and boats out of control, especially in the last race.

Peter donned the waders and made a few tweaks to Wednesdays course, but in the end the wind was a lot straighter by the time we started and this resulted in a bit too much port bias on the line.  Peter and Martin slugged it out for overall honours with 5 wins each. However, the consistent Martin took the day in the Pocket Rocket with his swing rig further forward and the boat living up to the “Rocket” name.

There were strong performances at times during the day from John, Bill (Ivy) and Clive once he changed to a conventionally rigged Pocket Rocket following electrical problems.  A number of boats had gear and electrical failures during the day causing one or more lost races for 6 of the 8 boats.  Was it the warm day or just bad luck?

Line watching and results recording was done by the fleet for half the races, until John Carlin paid a visit and helped out in the middle session; so thanks John.

  1. Martin Roberts           133  Pocket Rocket    11pts
  2. Peter Baldwin               63  Uno                         14pts
  3. Bill Culshaw                   21  Ivy                           30pts
  4. Clive Warren      184/163  Scuttle/Pocket    33pts
  5. Dave Williams               33  Uno                         39pts
  6. John Brierley                 84  3D print proto    42pts
  7. Alan Watkinson           23   Uno                         43pts
  8. Charles Legg                 26   Uno                         48pts